The greatest part of this film consists of views of streetcars (trolleycars / trams) -- specifically, the PCC cars which defined "rapid transit" for a generation of Americans, and continue to hold their own in some parts of the world. One curious detail is that the Washington cars are shown with their trolley poles stowed. By Act of Congress, overhead wires were prohibited in the Capitol, so the cars obtained their power via slots in the pavement (which can just be made out in some shots) instead.
When this film was made, DC Transit was being forced by law to switch to motor-buses. Of course, as in many other cities, the DC authorities are now struggling to install a new modern street-railway system.
Watch out for a clearly Sputnik-inspired advertisement for a candidate for Governor of Maryland.
There is a short sequence of Mount Vernon, and another from the observation deck of the Washington Monument.

This is a pretty strange reel. The person who did this (there's no other family members on this reel) seems to obsessed... OBSESSED! with busses! For 3/4 (or more) of this film, we see busses going this way, busses going that way, blue busses, yellow busses, etc etc etc! It gets numbing after awhile. Interesting though to see the political advertising on the side panelling on the busses. I guess that's not allowed anymore? Hmmm.. Anyways, the cameraman DOES pull himself from busbusbus to take a few shots of the US Capitol and of a church. But that's about all.. BUSBUSBUSBUS